EasyStreusel Topped Sweet Potato Casserolewith Pecans is the perfect holiday side dish. Sweet and fluffy with a crumbly and crunchy streusel topping, my sister-in-law Beth’s famous sweet potato casserole is a must-make dish for holiday meals!

sweet potato casserole on a white plate.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and while it means we get to spend a day with our family and loved ones, embracing the things that fill our hearts and make us most grateful, it’s also a massive food holiday.It can easily become a stressful day with pans and pots flying in every direction and a never-ending amount of oven and cleanup time.

But I’m all about simplifying Thanksgiving by making some dishes ahead of time and allowing myself a little space to relax and enjoy the day when it arrives,and this sweet potato casserole lets me do just that.You will love enjoying thiswarming, hearty, sweet, and comforting disharound your kitchen table with your family and friends.

close up of sweet potato casserole in a blue and white pan.

Why You’ll Love This Streusel Topped Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Versatile Classic:Sweet potato casserole isa classic, hearty, sweet holiday dish that pairs perfectly with savory meats and sides.
Quick & Easy:Itcomes together quickly and easily,especially if you prep it ahead of time!
Make Ahead:It’s a perfect make-ahead holiday dish that is satisfying in every way, fromthe fluffy sweet potato mash to the crumbly and sweet streusel topping.

🍠 I like to start withoven roasted sweet potatoesto make it this go-to holiday side dish even easier!

Recipe Ingredients

Sweet potatoes
Sugar
Milk
Vanilla
Butter
Eggs

For the Streusel Topping:

Pecans
Brown Sugar
Flour –all-purpose
Cinnamon

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Easy Sweet Potato Casserole

Bake potatoes until tender and skip skins off.
Mix potatoes and add salt, sugar, milk, vanilla, and butter until smooth.
Beat in the eggs and place the sweet potato mixture in a baking dish.
Add together the topping ingredients, sprinkle over sweet potatoes, and bake.

Recipe FAQs

Can you freeze sweet potato casserole?

Yes! You can freeze leftovers for a chilly day when you want something sweet and warming, make sure you let them cool completely, store them in an airtight container, and freeze them for up to three months.

Can sweet potato casserole be made ahead?

To make this dish ahead of time, prepare through step 8 of the recipe instructions (get the sweet potato layer ready and put it in the pan). Make the streusel, and keep it separate. Store both parts of the dish covered in the fridge until you are ready to bake, up to 2 days in advance. Let the dish come to room temperature before baking, add the topping, and bake as directed.

What goes with sweet potato casserole?

Turkey, of course! But really, anything goes well with sweet potato casserole. It’s sweet yet pairs nicely with rich and savory meat, such as ham or chicken.

sweet potato casserole in a white and blue pan.

Expert Tips

So Easy:Sweet potato casserole isseriously impossible to mess up—that’s the beauty of pretty much all casseroles! Bake 350 for about 35 minutes, until the streusel topping looks crispy.
Reheating:Toreheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake at 350until heated, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Or Bake From Cold:You canbake the cold sweet potatoes for 15 minutes, add the topping, and bake for the rest of the 35 minutes.

How to Fix Runny Sweet Potato Casserole

If your casserole turned a bit on the runny side, it’s likely due to either a bit too much milk or not quite hitting the 4 pounds of sweet potatoes for the needed mash to soak up the liquid. But no worries, it’s easy to fix!

To fix a runny sweet potato casserole, I suggest adding a thickener. Any of these thickening tips should do the trick:

Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch or flour
Stir in 1/4 cup instant mashed potato flakes
Add more mashed sweet potatoes

You can also bake it a bit longer, about 10-15 minutes extra, leaving it uncovered. Letting it rest 10-15 minutes before serving will also give it time to finish setting up.

How to Reheat Sweet Potato Casserole

If you’ve made the casserole ahead of time, finish getting it ready for the table by letting the dish come to room temperature first. Then add the topping and bake it according to the recipe.

For leftover casserole, it can be reheated in the microwave or oven. It will only need to be heated until warmed through since it has already been cooked completely.